Five accused of rape of Tangail girl remanded

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Thursday, 03 January 2013

Author / Source: STAFF REPORTER

DHAKA, JAN 2: The five accused, arrested in connection with the rape of a schoolgirl in Madhupur, Tangail, were placed on remand by a judicial magistrate of a Tangail court on Wednesday. They are Sahjahan Ali, Nuruzzaman Geda, Harunur Rashid and Moniruzzaman Moni and their associate Bithi Akhtar. They were arrested on December 31. Bithi was remanded for one day, while the others for three days. Relatives of the raped girl alleged that Bithi, a friend of the girl, had lured her to a house in a hilly area of Madhupur, on the pretext of taking her to a marriage feast on December 7. The accused persons were waiting for the girl. As soon as the girl entered the house, they forcibly took her to another house and raped her for three successive days.
Later, the culprits dumped the unconscious girl near railway tracks. Locals residents took her to the District Sadar Hospital, but as her condition deteriorated she was shifted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Different organisations on Wednesday formed human chains, demanding death sentence for the culprits. The Youth Ending Hunger Project organised a human chain around 1:30 pm on the court premises in the town. Speakers demanded strict security for the victim and her family members. People from all walks of life took part in the programme.
Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, state minister for women affairs, said on Wednesday that the government would do everything to heal the victim. "If need be, we'll consider sending her abroad for better treatment," she added.
She said this during her visit to the DMCH to enquire about the condition of the Madhupur girl. The minister spoke to the girl and her relatives.
The victim urged the minister to take steps so that she could soon return home, hospital sources said.
Shirin lauded the role of the media in revealing the brutal incident and urged all to pray for the early recovery of the girl.
Bangabir Kader Siddiqui, president of the Bangladesh Krishak Sramik League, also went to the DMCH to visit the girl. He said such incidents often blurs the distinction between civilised people and savage beasts.